Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
  • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
  • C11D17/047—Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/835—Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/62—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/72—Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition.
• the invention particularly relates to a heat activated fabric treatment composition for use in a tumble dryer.
• conditioner dispensing articles comprising means for attachment of the substrate to the tumble dryer wall.
• Other proposals such as for instance disclosed in GB 1,399,728, involve the use of separate means for attaching the conditioning article to the tumble dryer wall.
• EP-B-361593 concerns an alternative approach in which a fabric conditioning article comprises a combination of a substrate and a fabric conditioning composition, the substrate being a porous material with a specified void volume and cell count.
• the article of EP-B-361593 is designed to adhere to the tumble dryer wall.
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,992 discloses a hemispherical device that fits onto the door of a tumble dryer and delivers fabric conditioner from sheets.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,606 discloses a dispenser on the door of a tumble dryer containing a roll of tumble dryer sheets.
• WO-A-97/42290 discloses solid compositions that can be delivered by any convenient applicator fixed to the door or to the surface of the drum of the tumble dryer.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,311 discloses a device for inside a tumble dryer for delivering a conventional aqueous fabric conditioner where the fabric conditioner migrates outwardly to the surface of the device to become engaged with clothes because of the heat and tumbling in the dryer. Staining from such liquid fabric conditioners that “wet” fabrics is mentioned.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,831 discloses a foam carrier for the inside of a tumble dryer impregnated with microencapsulated fluid where the microcapsules rupture because of mechanical and heat action.
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,908 discloses a valve-containing device attached to the non-rotating head of a tumble dryer drum for delivering accurate and metered amounts of a fluid.
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,105 discloses a device with multiple openings for the inside of a tumble dryer. Aqueous liquid conditioners are referred to, but the product is permanently in a liquid state and thus does not address the problem of leakage from the dispensing device during storage.
• WO-A1-00/58428 discloses a heat activated cleaning composition for dry-cleaning of textiles and garments.
• WO-A1-97/26316 relates to tumble dryer articles comprising a mixture of nonionic and anionic surfactants.
• EP-A2-0539025 discloses fragrance microcapsules for fabric conditioning.
• microcapsules are spray dried and incorporated into a tumble dryer article.
• WO-A1-02/33160 and WO-A1-02/33161 there are disclosed articles suitable for treatment fabrics in a tumble dryer.
• the compositions of the present invention are particularly suitable for use with such devices.
• a fabric treatment composition which, at a temperature below the heating cycle temperature of the tumble dryer, remains substantially within a dispensing article and is capable of undergoing a transition during the heating cycle of a tumble dryer such that it can be dispensed from the dispensing article
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,432 relates to a product for fabrics treatment in tumble drying machines. Disclosure is made of conditioning agents which are normally solid at room temperature and soften sufficiently at the tumble dryer operating temperature to be exuded through perforations within the product.
• the conditioning agent is preferably a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent in admixture with a nonionic surfactant.
• a very brief reference is made to aqueous solutions or dispersions and, in the examples, compositions comprising either a 1.8% aqueous solution of 3-alkoyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride or a 4.8% aqueous solution of lauryl dimethyl ammonio propane sulphonate are disclosed. There is no reference to the consumer perceivable problem of staining.
• Effective delivery of a fabric treatment composition from a device such as described above requires the composition to be flowable at the delivery temperature (i.e. the heating temperature of the tumble dryer).
• the inventors have identified a problem with fabric treatment compositions which are suitable to be delivered onto fabrics in a liquid state in that they can leave stain marks on the treated fabric.
• liquid fabric treatment compositions are usually delivered in a washing machine rinse cycle and not in a tumble dryer heating cycle.
• the level of staining is affected by whether the delivered composition fills the spaces between fibres or spreads on the fibres themselves.
• the stain becomes more visible if the air between the fibres is replaced with the composition since this reduces the difference in refractive index between the fibre and the surrounding fabric giving rise to more transmitted light and less reflection.
• the visibility of a stain is also believed to be affected by the thickness and evenness of spreading of the composition onto fabrics. Thin, even spreading of the composition is most desirable and thus viscosity and surface tension characteristics of the fabric treatment composition which improve thin, even spreading are particularly desirable.
• compositions which is delivered as a liquid onto fabrics is desirable since it is believed that a liquid will be dispensed and distributed evenly during delivery.
• a heat activated fabric treatment composition which can be delivered as a liquid during the heating cycle of a tumble dryer from a dispensing device and which addresses the problem of staining.
• the present invention seeks to address one or more of the abovementioned problems and to provide one or more of the abovementioned benefits.
• a heat activated fabric treatment composition comprising:
• a package comprising a composition as defined above within a dispensing device.
• the invention further provides a method of conditioning fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising providing the heat activated fabric treatment composition in a dispensing device, locating the dispensing device on the internal panel of the door of the tumble dryer, inserting fabrics into the tumble dryer and operating the dryer to cause at least a part of the fabric treatment composition to be dispensed from the device onto the fabrics being dried so as to condition the fabrics.
• heat activated means that composition is suitable for use in a domestic tumble dryer, and preferably means that the composition is substantially solid at ambient temperature, i.e. 20° C., and undergoes a transition to a substantially liquid state at the heating temperature of a domestic tumble dryer.
• the heating temperature of a domestic tumble dryer is typically within the range from about 40° C. to about 80° C.
• the composition is substantially solid at temperatures below 30° C., more preferably below 32° C., most preferably below 35° C., e.g. below 37° C. and is substantially liquid, or at least mobile, at temperatures above 45° C., more preferably above 40° C., most preferably above 37° C. It is desirable that the composition is fully melted at temperatures above 50° C.
• the slip point of the composition is greater than 30° C. and less than 50° C., more preferably greater than 35° C. and less than 47° C., most preferably greater than 37° C. and less than 45° C.
• the slip point of the composition is measured as defined by British Standard BS 684 section 1.3 1991 ISO 6321:1991 (UK).
• the composition In order to provide a fabric treatment composition capable of remaining substantially within a dispensing device during storage and being delivered to fabrics during the heating cycle of a tumble dryer, it is important that the composition has viscosity characteristics which allow the transition from a storage state to a dispensing state to occur at or about the heating temperature of the heat cycle. That is, the composition should preferably be a non-flowing, high viscosity product at ambient temperatures, e.g. a solid, soft solid or gel, and should become a low viscosity product, e.g. a liquid, at the heating temperatures of the tumble dryer.
• the composition is a “gel” at ambient temperature comprising a crystalline state forming a network to give the composition a non-flowing gel or gel-like consistency.
• the composition is most preferably a “sol” comprising a clear or isotropic solution.
• the composition is a single phase or, if multi-phasic, the dispersed phase has unit sizes smaller than a typical membrane pore size of a dispensing device.
• a typical membrane has a pore size in the range of 0.1–10 microns. For pore sizes much smaller than this dispensing becomes difficult whilst for much larger pore sizes, too much composition is released per cycle, thereby increasing the risk of staining.
• the composition will have a viscosity of above 375 mPa.s at a shear rate of 100 s ⁇ 1 at ambient temperature, more preferably above 450 mPa.s, most preferably above 500 mPa.s, e.g. above 600 mPa.s.
• the viscosity of the composition at ambient temperature can be measured by first melting the composition (if necessary), transferring it to a viscometer cup and then letting it cool to room temperature with gentle shearing.
• the composition will typically have a viscosity of below 350 mPa.s at 100 s ⁇ 1 , more preferably below 300 mPa.s, most preferably below 250 mpa.s, e.g. below 200 mPa.s.
• Measurements can be made using a Haake Rotoviscometer RV20 cup and bob NV1.
• the carrier system for the active ingredient(s) preferably comprises a nonionic surfactant, water and optionally a solvent.
• the nonionic surfactant is present in order to improve control of the melting temperature of the composition or at least to affect the temperature at which the composition flows.
• Preferred nonionic surfactants are solid at ambient temperature so that, once deposited onto fabrics, they cause greater scattering light from the fabrics thereby reducing visibility of any product deposited onto the fabric.
• the preferred nonionic surfactants have an HLB within the range 8 to 20, more preferably 10 to 20, as this significantly improves solubilisation of the active components (such as fabric softening agents which typically have a solubility of less than 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 3 wt % in water at 20° C.) in the water phase at the elevated temperatures of the heating cycle.
• the active components such as fabric softening agents which typically have a solubility of less than 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 3 wt % in water at 20° C.
• Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.
• the nonionic surfactant comprises an average degree of alkoxylation of from 8 to 40 alkoxy units per molecule, more preferably 10 to 30, even more preferably 11 to 25, e.g. 12 to 22 alkoxy units.
• any of the alkoxylated materials of the particular type described hereinafter can be used as the nonionic surfactant.
• Suitable surfactants are substantially water soluble surfactants of the general formula: R—Y—(C 2 H 4 O) z —C 2 H 4 OH where R is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl and/or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups; and primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; the hydrocarbyl groups having a chain length of from 8 to about 25, preferably 10 to 20, e.g. 14 to 18 carbon atoms with coco and tallow or chain composition being most preferred.
• Y is typically: —O—, —C(O)O—, —C(O)N(R)— or —C(O)N(R)R— in which R has the meaning given above or can be hydrogen; and Z is preferably from 8 to 40, more preferably from 10 to 30, most preferably from 11 to 25, e.g. 12 to 22.
• the degree of alkoxylation, Z denotes the average number of alkoxy groups per molecule.
• nonionic surfactants examples follow.
• the integer defines the number of ethoxy (EO) groups in the molecule.
• deca-, undeca-, dodeca-, tetradeca-, and pentadecaethoxylates of n-hexadecanol, and n-octadecanol having an HLB within the range recited herein are useful viscosity/dispersibility modifiers in the context of this invention.
• the ethoxylates of mixed natural or synthetic alcohols in the “tallow” chain length range are also useful herein. Specific examples of such materials include tallow alcohol-EO(11), tallow alcohol-EO(18), and tallow alcohol-EO (25), coco alcohol-EO(10), coco alcohol-EO(15), coco alcohol-EO(20) and coco alcohol-EO(25).
• deca-, undeca-, dodeca-, tetradeca-, pentadeca-, octadeca-, and nonadeca-ethoxylates of 3-hexadecanol, 2-octadecanol, 4-eicosanol, and 5-eicosanol having an HLB within the range recited herein are useful viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers in the context of this invention.
• Exemplary ethoxylated secondary alcohols useful herein as the viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers of the compositions are: C 16 EO(11); C 20 EO(11); and C 16 EO(14).
• the hexa- to octadeca-ethoxylates of alkylated phenols, particularly monohydric alkylphenols, having an HLB within the range recited herein are useful as the viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers of the instant compositions.
• the hexa- to octadeca-ethoxylates of p-tri-decylphenol, m-pentadecylphenol, and the like, are useful herein.
• Exemplary ethoxylated alkylphenols useful as the viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers of the mixtures herein are: p-tridecylphenol EO(11) and p-pentadecylphenol EO(18).
• a phenylene group in the nonionic formula is the equivalent of an alkylene group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
• nonionics containing a phenylene group are considered to contain an equivalent number of carbon atoms calculated as the sum of the carbon atoms in the alkyl group plus about 3.3 carbon atoms for each phenylene group.
• Phenolic alkoxylates are particularly preferred because they are believed to provide improved anti-static benefits on fabrics treated in a tumble dryer.
• alkenyl alcohols both primary and secondary, and alkenyl phenols corresponding to those disclosed immediately herein above can be ethoxylated to an HLB within the range recited herein and used as the viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers of the instant compositions.
• Olefinic alkoxylates are preferred for the same reason as phenolic alkoxylates.
• Branched chain primary and secondary alcohols which are available from the well-known “OXO” process can be ethoxylated and employed as the viscosity and/or dispersibility modifiers of compositions herein.
• any alkoxylated nonionic surfactant is an alkoxylated straight chain primary alcohol.
• Suitable polyol based surfactants include sucrose esters such sucrose monooleates, sucrose monostearate or mixture thereof, poly glycerols, alkyl polyglucosides such as coco or stearyl monoglucosides and stearyl triglucoside and alkyl polyglycerols.
• nonionic surfactants are useful in the present compositions alone or in combination, and the term “nonionic surfactant” encompasses mixed nonionic surface active agents.
• Sucrose based surfactants are highly suitable because of their higher hydration state relative to other alkoxylkates.
• the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount within the range from 5 to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably from 10 to 50 wt %, most preferably from 15 to 45 wt %.
• compositions of the invention comprise water and are preferably aqueous.
• compositions of the present invention are believed to help reduce staining and is unlike conventional tumble dryer sheets which are substantially non-aqueous.
• Water is present at a level of from 10 to 50%, preferably from 15 to 40%, more preferably from 20 to 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
• any water is preferably present as a continuous phase which may partially evaporate and/or remain partially associated with the active ingredient(s).
• nonionic surfactant and fabric treatment active ingredient are solubilised into the aqueous phase at the heating temperature of the tumble dryer so that the aqueous phase acts as a carrier for depositing the fabric treatment active onto fabrics. During heating, the water is then evaporated leaving the deposited fabric treatment active.
• compositions comprise a solvent for the active ingredient(s).
• the solvent further optimises the viscosity and flow temperature characteristics of the composition.
• the solvent may act as a humectant retarding the loss of water from the composition upon storage.
• the solvent is semi-polar.
• Suitable solvents include any which have a flash point above the heating temperature of a tumble dryer. Ideally the solvent is also odourless.
• glycol-based solvents such as glycol ethers.
• the most preferred solvent is dipropylene glycol.
• the solvent is preferably present at a level of from 1 to 25%, more preferably from 2 to 20%, most preferably from 3 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the weight ratio of nonionic surfactant to solvent is from 1:1 to 15:1, more preferably from 3:2 to 8:1 most preferably from 2:1 to 6:1.
• the combined amount of nonionic surfactant and optional solvent is preferably less than 50% by weight of the composition, more preferably less than 47%, most preferably less than 45%.
• Any active ingredient typically delivered in the rinse cycle of a laundry operation or in a tumble drying cycle is suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention.
• the nonionic surfactant is preferably present in an amount greater than the fabric treatment active ingredient.
• the nonionic surfactant is present in a weight excess, more preferably in a molar excess relative to the fabric treatment active ingredient.
• the molar ratio of fabric treatment active ingredient to nonionic surfactant is within the range from 2:1 to 1:25, more preferably from 1:1 to 1:15 most preferably from 1:1 to 1:7, e.g. 2:3 to 1:5.
• the weight ratio of fabric treatment active ingredient to nonionic surfactant is within the range from 2:1 to 1:100, more preferably from 3:2 to 1:75, most preferably from 1:1 to 1:20, e.g. 2:3 to 1:5.
• Suitable antistatic agents include humectants, such as glycerol and potassium acetate, inorganic salts, such as lithium chloride, and amines, such as triethanolamine. Ionising antistatic agents are believed to be more efficient than non-ionic antistatic agents, and thus it is desirable that the agent is sufficiently hygroscopic to form a solution in equilibrium with atmosphere below 40% relative humidity.
• Especially preferred antistatic agent include NH 4 DEFI/fatty acid systems containing up to 80% fatty acid, 25/75 LAS/Fatty acid systems, quaternary ammonium compounds where one or more of the alkyl groups is substituted by a poly(oxyethylene) group, perquaternised alkylene-diamine derivatives, polyamines containing poly(oxyethylene) groups, PEG 600, combinations of non-ionic and cationic surfactants as described in U.S. Pat. No.
• R 2 is an alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms (preferably 10 to 22);
• R 3 and R 4 are each either hydrogen or an alkyl group (1 to 22 carbons) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,100, polyalkylethyleneimine of the form —[N(R′)(CH 2 ) y ] z — where y is an integer from 1 to 4, preferably 2, z is an integer greater than 1, preferably 20 to 10000,
• R′ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and alkyl and alkanoyl substituents containing preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms and preferably 10 to 20% of the nitrogen atoms are substituted with alkyl and alkanoyl substituents as described in U.S.
• Suitable fabric softening agents include cationic surfactants such as quaternary ammonium fabric softening materials and imidazolines as well as nonionic fabric softening agents.
• the fabric treatment active ingredient comprises a cationic surfactant
• a nonionic surfactant is present.
• the nonionic surfactant co-micellises the cationic surfactant thereby increasing dissolution of the active ingredient into the aqueous phase. This provides excellent transfer of ingredients through the membrane pores and increases the liquidity of the activated composition, thereby improving deposition onto fabrics.
• the fabric softening agent is a quaternary ammonium fabric softening material, it preferably has two C 12-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the nitrogen head group, preferably via at least one ester link. It is more preferred if the quaternary ammonium material has two ester links present.
• the average chain length of the alkyl or alkenyl group is at least C 14 , more preferably at least C 16 . Most preferably at least half of the chains have a length of C 18 .
• alkyl or alkenyl chains are predominantly linear.
• the first group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (I): wherein each R is independently selected from a C 5-35 alkyl or alkenyl group, R 1 represents a C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl or a C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl group, T is n is 0 or a number selected from 1 to 4, m is 1, 2 or 3 and denotes the number of moieties to which it relates that pend directly from the N atom, and X ⁇ is an anionic group, such as halides or alkyl sulphates, e.g. chloride, methyl sulphate or ethyl sulphate.
• Especially preferred materials of this class are di-alkenyl esters of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate.
• Commercial examples include Tetranyl AHT-1 (di-hardened oleic ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 80% active), AT-1(di-oleic ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 90% active), L5/90 (palm ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 90% active), all ex Kao, Rewoquat WE15 (C 10 –C 20 and C 16 –C 18 unsaturated fatty acid reaction products with triethanolamine dimethyl sulphate quaternised 90% active), ex Witco Corporation.
• the second group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (II): wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X ⁇ are as defined above.
• Preferred materials of this class such as 1,2 bis[tallowoyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride and 1,2-bis[oleyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride and their method of preparation are, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,180 (Lever Brothers), the contents of which are incorporated herein.
• these materials also comprise small amounts of the corresponding monoester, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,180.
• a third group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (III): wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X ⁇ are as defined above.
• a preferred material of this class is N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride.
• a fourth group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (IV): wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and X ⁇ is as defined above.
• quaternary ammonium materials with one or more alkoxylate groups per molecule are believed to deliver both good softening and good antistatic to fabrics.
• Fabric softening agents which also deliver anti-static benefits are particularly preferred.
• the fabric treatment active ingredient is present in an amount from 3 to 75% by weight (active ingredient) based on the total weight of the composition, preferably 4 to 60% by weight, more preferably 5 to 50% by weight, most preferably 10 to 45% by weight.
• the iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compound or acid from which the quaternary ammonium fabric softening material is formed is from 0 to 140, more preferably from 0 to 80, most preferably from 0 to 40, e.g. from 0 to 35.
• iodine value below 4 is particularly desirable as the resultant active ingredient provides excellent softening and is more resistant to odour problems upon storage. It is also believed that lower iodine values may reduce staining.
• iodine values from 5 to 35 are also suitable as the resultant active ingredient melts more readily at the heating temperature of the tumble dryer, and can provide better anti-static benefits.
• the quaternary ammonium material is based on a parent fatty acid or acyl compound having an iodine value of from 5 to 35, e.g. 10 to 25, it is particularly preferred that the nonionic surfactant comprises a fully saturated alkoxylated alcohol, e.g. hardened tallow 15 EO.
• the method for calculating the iodine value of a parent fatty acyl compound/acid comprises dissolving a prescribed amount (from 0.1–3 g) into about 15 ml chloroform.
• the dissolved parent fatty acyl compound/fatty acid is then reacted with 25 ml of iodine monochloride in acetic acid solution (0.1M).
• acetic acid solution 0.1M
• 20 ml of 10% potassium iodide solution and about 150 ml deionised water is added.
• the excess of iodine monochloride is determined by titration with sodium thiosulphate solution (0.1M) in the presence of a blue starch indicator powder.
• a blank is determined with the same quantity of reagents and under the same conditions.
• the difference between the volume of sodium thiosulphate used in the blank and that used in the reaction with the parent fatty acyl compound or fatty acid enables the iodine value to be calculated.
• compositions of the present invention also comprise one or more perfumes.
• perfume ingredients include those disclosed in “Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals)”, by Steffen Arctander, published by the author in 1969, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• compositions of the present invention without destabilizing the composition.
• levels are significantly higher than those present in commercially available tumble dryer sheets. Accordingly, better perfume substantivity and longevity can be achieved from the present compositions than from traditional tumble dryer sheets.
• compositions of the present invention may comprise a fatty component such as a fatty acid and/or a fatty alcohol.
• Suitable fatty acids/alcohols have a hydrocarbyl chain length of from 8 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 22, most preferably from 12 to 20 carbon atoms.
• Preferred fatty acids include hardened tallow fatty acid (available under the tradename Pristerene, ex Uniqema).
• Preferred fatty alcohols include hardened tallow alcohol (available under the tradenames Stenol and Hydrenol, ex Cognis and Laurex CS, ex Albright and Wilson) and behenyl alcohol, a C22 chain alcohol, available as Lanette 22 (ex Henkel).
• the fatty acid and/or alcohol is preferably present in an amount of from 0.5% to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the fatty component is present in an amount of from 1 to 10%, most preferably from 1.5 to 7% by weight.
• co-active ingredients for the fabric treatment active ingredient may also be incorporated in an amount from 0.01 to 20% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 10%, based on the total weight of the composition.
• Preferred ingredients of this type include fatty esters, and fatty N-oxides.
• Preferred fatty esters include fatty monoesters, such as glycerol monostearate. If GMS is present, then it is preferred that the level of GMS in the composition, is from 0.01 to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.
• a polymeric viscosity control agent may also be present in the compositions of the invention.
• Suitable polymeric viscosity control agents include nonionic and cationic polymers, such as hydrophobically modified cellulose ethers (e.g. Natrosol Plus, ex Hercules) and cationically modified starches (e.g. Softgel BDA and Softgel BD, both ex Avebe).
• a particularly preferred viscosity control agent is a copolymer of methacrylate and cationic acrylamide available under the tradename Flosoft 200 (ex SNF Floerger).
• Polymeric viscosity control agents are preferably present in an amount of from 0.01 to 5 wt %, more preferably 0.02 to 4 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.
• compositions may also contain one or more optional ingredients conventionally included in fabric conditioning compositions such as pH buffering agents, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colourants, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, polyelectrolytes, enzymes, optical brightening agents, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, ironing aids and dyes.
• optional ingredients conventionally included in fabric conditioning compositions such as pH buffering agents, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colourants, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, polyelectrolytes, enzymes, optical brightening agents, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, ironing aids and dyes.
• Samples of the invention are represented by a number. Comparative samples are represented by a letter.
• the quat, nonionic and optional solvent were weighed in a beaker and heated on a hot plate until molten (about 70° C.). The molten mixture was then added with stirring to hot water (also about 70° C.) to which optional components such as a polyelectrolyte or salt had already been added. To this mixture, perfume was added and stirring continued until a ‘clear’ liquid was produced. The liquid was bottled and left to cool either in the bottle or on a rotary blender.
• the viscosity of the samples was measured at a shear rate of 106 s ⁇ 1 using a Haake Rotoviscometer RV20 cup and bob NV1 at both ambient temperature and at the heating temperature of the tumble dryer. The results are given in table 2.
• Approximately 30 g of the sample to be evaluated was transferred to a dispensing device—as described on page 16 line 26 to page 20 line 12 and shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of WO-A1-02/33161 having a membrane thickness of 160 ⁇ m, a membrane pore size of 0.2 ⁇ m and membrane area of 1080 mm 2 .
• the device was then attached to the inside of the door of a Miele Novotronic T43 tumble dryer and a 60 minute “Cotton Extra Dry” heating cycle started.
• a 1.5 kg load was washed in a Miele Novotronic W820 washing machine using 80 g of un-perfumed Persil fabric washing powder at a 40° C. wash temperature.
• the fabrics were spin dried and then transferred to a Miele Novotronic T43 tumble dryer.
• the dispensing device as described above—was charged with 30 g of the sample and then attached to the internal side of the door of the tumble dryer and the 60 minute “Cotton Extra Dry” drying cycle started. At the end of the cycle the fabrics were removed.
• Staining was evaluated by a panel of trained laboratory personnel in a standard Viewing Cabinet (D65 light, simulating typical northern hemisphere outdoor light). The panel assessed the staining of the aqueous compositions with a critical eye using different viewing angles and observing over a black background.
• each sample was assessed 3 times with the fabric being washed as described above between each assessment.
• Staining was ranked according to the number of stains and the size/visibility of the stains on a scale of from 0 to 5 where 0 represented no staining and 5 represented severe staining.
• Staining evaluation was also carried out using the samples (table 1) and a standard commercially available tumble dryer sheet (Bounce, purchased in UK in 2001) over 10 wash and dry cycles.
• a 1.5 kg load containing equal weight mixtures of cotton, polycotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, microfibre monitors and pongee polyester monitors was washed as described above.
• the washed articles were spin dried and transferred to a Hotpoint Aquarius Tumble Dryer and then tumble dried on medium setting for 60 minutes. This process was repeated 10 times, with the dispensing device remaining in position and without being recharged. After each cycle the articles were removed and assessed then washed and the cycle repeated until 10 cycles completed. For the sample containing the tumble dryer sheet, a new sheet was introduced before each drying cycle.

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